We stopped by Violet Crown for a drink when Uptown Sports Club had too long of a wait. Definitely…read morea different vibe from what we were looking for. There's a sizeable patio out front that looked pretty nice but inside was dark and dank. We did enjoy sitting on their shaded back patio while we drank our beers but probably won't be going back. There are a lot of better choices out there.

Solid dive bar with great dreamsicle frozen drinks! They also had a tasty food truck outside, the…read morepatio in front and back and large space inside made for a great group gathering!

Hello, I wanted to…read moreshare a very disappointing experience I had during my recent visit. I've been coming to your bar for about six years and have always enjoyed the atmosphere, which is why this interaction was so upsetting. When I approached the bar to order, the bartender, Julia, immediately said, "Don't piss me off." I was caught off guard because I hadn't said or done anything at that point. I was ordering drinks for myself and my partner, so I had two tabs. Before receiving my drink, I let her know that I wanted to cash out both tabs. After handing me my drink, she walked away without closing them. I politely reminded her that I needed to cash out both tabs, and she responded by saying, "You're pissing me off now." When I explained that I had already mentioned wanting to close both tabs, she told me, "I'm completely sober, so I know what you said. You're drunk." At that point, I had only had one beer. Whether she believed I had misunderstood something or not, I don't think it was appropriate to speak to a guest that way. I responded by saying, "It's okay to be wrong," which I understand may not have helped de-escalate the situation, but I was frustrated by how I was being spoken to. The interaction continued outside, where she raised her voice at me in front of other guests. I told her that it wasn't appropriate to yell at me publicly and that beginning the interaction by saying "don't piss me off" was also unacceptable. The conversation continued to escalate, and after I had already paid my tabs (approximately $18 total), my beer was taken and thrown away. I've worked in the service industry as well, so I understand that difficult interactions happen and that everyone has stressful days. However, I also know how important it is to remain professional when interacting with customers. I don't expect perfection, but I do expect to be treated with basic respect. I'm not writing this to get anyone in trouble. I simply wanted to make management aware of an experience that left me feeling embarrassed, uncomfortable, and disappointed at a place I've supported for many years. I hope this can be addressed so that other guests don't have a similar experience. Thank you for taking the time to read this I also found it concerning that you repeatedly emphasized that you were sober. At no point did I question your sobriety or suggest otherwise. My only request was to cash out both of my tabs. Being told, "I'm completely sober, so I know what you said," felt unnecessary and had nothing to do with the situation. It seemed to escalate what should have been a simple interaction.

AVOID THIS DUMP!…read more Barton Springs Saloon: A Masterclass in Apathy and Aggression Let me set the scene: It's Monday, March 30, 2026, around 7:30 PM. The bar is practically a ghost town. There is literally nothing going on, not a single ticket in the well. Enter the antagonist of our story: a surly, brown-haired, early-30s male bartender whose entire vibe can only be described as "aggressively burdened by my existence." I sat down and made the apparently offensive mistake of asking for a tequila recommendation or a menu. Instead of, you know, doing his job, he vaguely flapped a hand toward a distant corner of the bar and muttered something to the effect of, "Figure it out yourself." Rude? Absolutely. But the true comedic genius of this moment was that the "selection" he pointed to was completely barricaded behind a Great Wall of stacked pint glasses. Unless he expected me to develop X-ray vision on the spot, I wasn't choosing anything. When he finally graced my side of the bar with his presence again, he asked if I'd made a decision. I politely informed him that his precious agave collection was hidden behind glassware. Did he apologize? Did he offer a menu? No. He just served up a passive-aggressive shrug packed with so much contempt it deserves its own Austin zip code. As someone with a background in neurobiology, I was genuinely fascinated by the complete lack of synaptic activity required to be this terrible at hospitality when you have literally zero other customers to attend to. Having also worked in the food & beverage service industry myself, I've seen my share of bad nights, but I have never witnessed such dastardly, flippant behavior from a bartender. I did the only logical thing: I told him it would be better if I just found another place to go, got up, and walked right out the door. To the Management: Your Monday night guy needs a serious talking-to, a basic hospitality seminar, and maybe a printed menu, since memorizing the tequila selection is clearly above his pay grade.

Great dive bar in a fun area of Austin. Don't live there anymore, but it was great in the old days…read moreof Austin.

Rude as fuck staff, terrible drinks, no AC, no music, bad vibes, have to wait over an hour to play…read moreone game of pool, the tables are rigged and this place stinks, only one bathroom per gender, this place is awful I will never return. The staff yelled at me for no reason, never come here

Looking for a dark place to drink and talk and play the jukebox in the background? This is the…read moreplace. Looking for something bright and shiny with funny-named drinks? Look elsewhere. This is a favorite for a friend and I who catch up every few months here. Service is always on-point and our drink orders are not froofy.

I've lived in a lot of different countries, and at this bar I happened to encounter the worst…read morebartender I've ever seen in my life. It was so bad that at one point it actually became funny, to be honest. He takes every question as a personal insult, rolling his eyes from the very first moment you walk in the door. There's no menu, but they can't recommend anything either; and when you start suggesting your own options (nothing fancy at all), they magically turn out to be unavailable, one after another. The bartender also isn't entirely aware of all the missing ingredients, which is a bit frustrating and wastes your time. I've never seen people in the restaurant business who hate their jobs so much and are so ill-suited for them. I hope this young man finds his way)

I've been coming here for the last few years and have never written a review. Guess I was busy…read morehaving fun. I dig this spot because it's truly a local, neighborhood bar. No frills but it's clean and comfortable with a nice deck. Great beer and cocktail selection. Friendly service.

Im from out of town and Met up with an old friend who lives outside of Austin and someon le she…read moreknew recommended this spot. On a Saturday afternoon this was a classic true to nature dive live music bar. Very chill, great prices, and really excellent live music ! I could've hung here all day and night!

Key bar is everything in one. Open space, awesome attentive staff and great music! The service is…read morebeyond! Look no further, this is the spot to be!

The best bar in Austin for dancing and singing especially to Taylor swift. The staff are all…read moreawesome/friendly and it's a really popular spot in Austin for good reason. If I were to make one bit of criticism it's that they need to start showing boxing and ufc events again

I came to Austin for the week to cat-sit for my daughter and asked two strangers on South Lamar…read morewhere a woman traveling alone could find live music. Without hesitation, they both pointed me to Donn's Depot. They were absolutely right. From the moment I walked in, the place felt authentic. Not curated. Not trendy. Just a room full of people genuinely enjoying one another. The bartender was friendly, the regulars immediately welcomed a complete stranger to their table, and before long I was swapping stories with some of the kindest people I've met in a long time. Murphy's In-Laws were fantastic. Their musicianship was outstanding, and after I asked about a James Taylor song, they dusted off Steamroller--a song they hadn't played in years--and performed it like they had played it during warm-ups. Definitely not for the "first time in 15 years." They threw in "Shower the People" for me afterward! Donn's is one of those local favorites that is unforgettable because it provides moments you can't plan. One thing to know before you go: they don't serve meals, but they do have complimentary popcorn (which was great to discover if you haven't eaten anything prior to liquor)! What stayed with me most wasn't just the music. It was the hospitality. A stranger (who overheard my desire to hear Steamroller) quietly paid for my song request. A table of regulars pulled up a chair and made room for me. No one asked why I was there by myself. They simply welcomed me and nick-named me, "San Antonio." From a mic. If you're looking for polished nightlife, this may not be your place--but you probably need to go anyway. If you're looking for authentic Austin, genuine people, excellent live music, and an evening that reminds you how kind strangers can be, don't miss Donn's Depot. Keep Austin Great, y'all!

This unpretentious, eclectic, festive, multi-generational dive is off the rails. Get it?…read more Named after Donn, a local legend, who plays piano or tends bar at least once a week. The authentic but repurposed train station opened in 1972. In fact, a vintage railcar serves as an elevated viewing area of the dance floor, and you may want to check out the women's caboose. Literally, the depot has a caboose for a restroom! Going on a Friday night, we paid the $10 cover and it was a little crowded, but there were a few seats at the picnic tables in the wrap-around patio and I managed to step on only a few feet on the small dance floor, dancing to Donn and his Station Masters playing honky-tonk soul, western swing, and rock and roll covers. If you want a fun night, choo-choo-choose Donn's Depot. :

May the 4th be with you (5/4/26). Today was actually my first time at Star Bar! For YEARS we've…read moretalked about stopping and just never had the time. Since they were doing a "May the 4th be with you" event we decided to attend. We took our Ewok called Sir Benjamin Doolittle and my boyfriend took the lightsaber he made at Disney a few years ago. The boyfriend also wore his Darth Maul button down. Star Bar had themed tee shirts for sale, only twenty bucks. The boyfriend bought one. They also had two themed drinks: Blue Milk Soft Serve Marg & Jabba the Hutt (Carajillo). Both incredibly delicious. At the time we were there, we were the only ones dressed the part. It was early and I'm sure later tonight they'll see all sorts of Star Wars related stuff. Anyway, about the bar: it's pretty spacious inside with a spacious side and front patio. There's another side patio shared with Via 313 that's equally as large. The bathrooms are super clean. Extremely friendly service. We take our reactive dog EVERYWHERE with us. With this being a new place for him, he was on high alert protecting his parents. The staff were incredibly kind to him and when we left stressed how they'd like to see him back again. So sweet! I shared both cocktails mentioned above with my boyfriend. They were well-made & tasty. Definitely a cool place to hang out even if you're not into sports. Thanks, Star Bar! Bonus: Hanging out with neighbors.

Star Bar is a rare gem on West 6th. A great bar with excellent cocktails and cold beer. Super…read morebartenders and a grown up clientele. The VIA313 pizza is an added bonus. Highly recommended